Marine propulsion system



Au 22, 1967' v. JENEY 3,336,897

MARINE PROPULSION SYSTEM INVENTOR VIKTOR JENEY "32 l l LU ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,336,897 MARINE PROPULSION SYSTEM ViktorJeney, Beverly Place, St. Louis, Mo. 63112 Filed June 8, 1965, Ser. No. 462,336 12 Claims. (Cl. 115--28) component disposed within an enclosed space and being thereby protected against inadvertent, accidental damaging or destructive contact with rocks and other marine hazards.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a propulsion system of the character stated which comprises a marked simplicity of sturdy elements, being there-by resistant to breakdown; which system is reliable and durable in usage; which is economically operated; and which does not require the service of skilled personnel.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a propulsion system of the character stated which is adapted for utilization with a unique vessel-directing control system, rendering the vessel easily maneuverable.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a control system for marine vessels which is of simple construction; which is positive in usage; which is easily handled; and which does not comprehend any parts which would project outwardly from the vessel for subjection to damaging impact with inadvertent forces or obstacles.

Other objects and details of the invention will be apparent from the following description; when read in connection with the accompanying drawing (one sheet) wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view, in partial section, of

'the stern portion of a vessel provided with a-propulsion system constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a stern-end view of the vessel. FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken substantially upon the line 22 of FIGURE 1, and illustrating the motion cycle of the blade.

Referring now by reference characters to the drawing which illustrates the preferred embodiment of the present invention, A broadly designates a water-borne vessel or boat having a stern portion comprising a deck 1, upstanding sides 2, 3, and a transverse rearward end wall 4 of transom character.

Provided within the stern portion of boat A is a prime mover 5, having a drive shaft 6, carrying a pulley 7, receiving an endless drive belt 8, which in turn is trained about a pulley 9, mounted preferably centrally upon a shaft 10, being rotated through the aforesaid transmission means by energization of prime mover 5. Mounted ,eccentrically on shaft 10, preferably adjacent pulley 9,

is a counterweight 11, for the purposes described hereinbelow.

Said shaft 10 extends transversely across boat A with each end thereof being journaled within a suitable bearing (not shown) in walls 12, 12', of casings 13, 13' respectively, said walls 12, 12' being planarwise parallel to and spaced inwardly of boat sides 2, 3, respectively,

immediately forwardly of boat end wall 4, and being connected thereto by end sections 14, 15, 14', 15', respectively. Each casing 13, 13' consists of walls 12, 12' and sections 14, 15, 14, 15', respectively, as well as top closure plates 16, 16 and co-operate with the adjacent portions of deck 1 and the proximate side walls, 2, 3, to define substantially water-tight chambers 17, 17', respectively. Said shaft 10 projects at its ends within the said chambers 17, 17' and upon each projecting end mounts a circular plate 18, 18', respectively, for rotation with shaft 10. Mounted on each circular plate 18, 18' and being located radially outwardly of shaft 10 for projection laterally toward the confronting boat side 2, 3 is a crank pin 19, 19' which is engaged to the upper end of a flat crank 20, 20, respectively, of general plate character, and being contoured so that its side edges incline downwardly and outwardly toward its linear bottom edge, as at 21. Said cranks 20, 20' project downwardly through slot-like openings 22, 22 provided in the base of the respective chamber 17, 17' for extension beneath deck 1 in its stern portion. At their lower ends, cranks 20', 20" are suitably rigidly engaged to the upper outer side portions of a relatively fiat, thin blade-like member 23 which extends transversely across boat A from side to side thereof. Said blade 23 is tapered in its forward and rearward portions throughout its transverse extent with the development of realatively fine leading and rearward edges, as indicated at 24, 24', respectively.

Projecting mid-point of each end of blade 23 is a guide pin 25, 25 which is received in and extends through a vertical guide slot 26, 26, respectively, formed within the confronting portion of the adjacent boat side 2, 3 whereby blade 23 is retained in proper operational attitude for purposes presently appearing. With reference to FIGURES 2 and 4, it will be seen that the portion of deck 1 extending between boat sides 2, 3 for constituting the bases of chambers 17, 17 is elevated as at 101 with respect to the forward portion of deck 1, there being an inclined or ramp-like portion 102 therebetween. Spacedly presented beneath deck portion 101 andin planarwise alignment with the forward portion of deck 1 is a fiat "bottom section 27 which together with the said deck portion 101 and the intervening portions of boat sides 2, 3 define a transversely extending compartment 28 for receiving said blade-like member 23 and the connecting portions of cranks 20, 20. Compartment 28 is in communication with chambers 17, 17' through slot-like openings 22, 22. At its forward end bottom section 27 terminates at a point slightly forwardly of the rearward end of ramp section 10 2 and forms the rearward side of transversely extending opening 29, the forward side of which is defined by the joint between the forward end of ramp 102 and the adjacent forward portion of deck 1. Opening 29 effects communication between the water and compartment 28 through an upwardly and rearwardly increasing passage 30, the upper limit of which is defined by the under face of ramp 102. Extending across the forward end of compartment 28 is a screen 31 being suitably aflixed at its edges to the adjacent boat portions so as to effectively occlude entry of foreign matter into compartment 28 for undesired damaging contact with blade 23. Blade member 23 is protectedly enclosed within compartment 28 thereby assuring continuous reliable operation, undiminished by damaging impact with any ,obstacles such as rocks or the like, as well as unforeseen opening through the end wall 4. The said orifices 32 are located in the lower portion of end wall 4 and are in communication with compartment 28 through their inner, enlarged ends.

Disposed outwardly of, and in immediate adjacency to, end wall 4 is a fiat closure plate 33 which is pivotally mounted thereon at a point above the row of orifices 32 and substantially midway the width of said wall; which mounting adapts plate 33 for rockable movement within a plane parallel to that of end wall 4 and comprises an enlarged opening 34 in the central lower portion of plate 33 through which extends a pivot pin 35 aifixed at its inner end to said wall 4 and at its outer end being integral with a rod 36 which extends upwardly, in alignment with the vertical center line of end wall 4, and outwardly of plate 33. At its upper end rod 36 is turned inwardly, as at 37, for extension through an opening 38 in plate 33 for fixed engagement to a control cable 39. Said cable 39 at opposite ends is led forwardly through openings 40, 40 in wall 4 into the interior of boat A for ultimate engagement to a steering mechanism (not shown). Closure plate 33, in its lower portion is contoured to provide at its opposite lower end portions extensions 41, 41', the base edges of which will normally be presented immediately upwardly of the laterally outer-most orifices 32 on the related side of boat A.

Inoperation, upon energization of prime mover 5, shaft is caused to rotate, which, as viewed from the end shown in FIGURES 2 and 4, will be in a counterclockwise direction.

With reference to said figures, the action of blade member 23'will become apparent. Circular plates 18, 18' upon being rotated will cause the imparting of reciprocating motion to cranks 20, 20' whereby the same will be moved upwardly and then downwardly. Such movement of cranks 20, 20' will effect a novel and unique motion cycle to blade member 23, which motion might be likened unto the action of a dolphins tail.

With particular reference being made to FIGURE 4, and with cranks 20, 20 in lower-most position, blade member 23 will be surfacewise disposed upon the upper face of bottom section 27, with the guide .pins 25, 25' being at the lower end of the guide slots 26, 26', respectively. In this attitude, it will be noted that water entering compartment 28 will necessarily flow over the top of blade member 23. It will be further observed that the leading and rearward edges 24, 24' of blade member 23 will be horizontally aligned in such position. As circular plates 18, 18' are rotated, cranks 20, 20' will be carried upwardly and initially assume a rearwardly inclined attitude to the vertical (the angle of which is dependent upon the radius of plates 18, 18) causing the rearward portion of blade member 23 to descend into surfacewise disposition upon bottom section 27 with simultaneous lifting of the forward end portion to allow water to flow on both sides of blade member 23. As cranks 20, 20' are further raised, blade member 23 will be lifted from engagement with bottom section 27, with the blade member 23 retaining its forward upward inclination. In this position, the undersurface of blade member 23 co-acts with the upper face of bottom section 27 to effect suction upon the water entering compartment 28, while the upper face of blade 23 co-acts with the under face of deck portion 101 to provide a compression or squeezing of the water therebetween for driving same rearwardly. When cranks 20, 20' reach the upper-most position, as shown in phantom lines in FIGURE 4, blade member 23 will be returned to substantially horizontal disposition and presented against the under face of deck portion 101. The travel of cranks 20, 20' returningly from upper-most position to lower-most position will cause blade member 23 to move downwardly toward bottom section 27 to be presented in attitudes which are the reverse of those the blade had assumed in travelling upwardly (see FIG- URE 2) whereby the upper face of blade member 23,

together with under portion of deck section 101 will provide the suction or in-drawing action upon the water, while the under face of blade member 23 together with upper surface of bottom section 27 will provide the compressive or squeezing action upon the water for displacing same rearwardly to effect travel of boat A.

The above-described operation will then render apparent the necessity of counterweight 11 since the same is eccentric with respect to shaft 10 in a direction opposite to that of crank pins 19, 19' so as to provide the desired balance during operation and prevent any undue stress upon shaft 10.

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the propulsion system of the present invention is most unique in that it incorporates a fiat blade member adapted to move through a predetermined cycle for simultaneously effecting a suction and compression upon water entering compartment 28, which action is continuous so as to propel boat A smoothly through the water. The unusual motion of blade member 23 permits of a smooth flowing action as the said blade is tapered for streamlining and causes minimum turbulence.

Water moving through compartment 28 is displaced rearwardly and emitted through orifices 32 which latter, being rearwardly tapered, cause a jet-like forceful ejection with the reactive forces contributing to the forward movement of boat A.

In order to direct the course of boat A, the operator need only effect, by indicated operation of the steering mechanism, a pulling or tensioning on the appropriate side of cable 39, which will pull the upper central portion of closure plate 33 in like direction, causing the said plate to rock about its pivot mounting and thereby cause extension 41 or 41', as the case may be, to descend into occluding relationship with respect to the adjacent orifices. For instance, if it is desired to direct boat A to the right or to starboard, cable 39 will be tensioned, causing extension 41 to be dropped into blocking relationship with respect to the adjacent orifices, thereby causing a greater displacement force on the left-hand or port side of boat A, with resultant turning of the same toward the right.

The present invention incorporates boat steering means which is peculiarly adapted for utilization with the novel propulsion system of the present invention, which steering means are easily utilized and wholly reliable in operation. It should be noted that if desired, the propulsion system of the present invention could be utilized with the conventional vertically disposed, swingably mounted rudder.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the formation, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the marine propulsion system may be made and substituted for these herein shown and described Without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A liquid displacement system for use with waterborne vessels comprising a fluid channel having a bottom wall, a top wall and a pair of side walls, said channel being opened at its ends for fluid ingress and egress, a shaft presented above said top wall, a crank, means providing an eccentric connection between the shaft and the crank, there being an opening in said top wall, said crank extending downwardly through said opening and into said channel, a liquid-engaging, work-performing blade disposed transversely within said channel, said blade being fixedly engaged to the lower end of said cranks for reciprocal movement upwardly and downwardly within said channel upon rotation of said shaft and guide means for limiting lengthwise movement of said blade relative to said channel so that during upward and downward travel, the blade will be moved successively from a first upper horizontal position to a second forwardly and downwardly inclined position for drawing water past the forward edge of the blade into the area between the blade and the top wall of the channel, thence to a third lower horizontal position for expelling water past the rearward edge of the blade from the area between the blade and the bottom wall of the channel, thence from the lower horizontal position to a fourth forwardly and upwardly inclined position for drawing water past the forward edge of the blade into the area between the blade and the bottom wall of the channel, and thence to the said upper horizontal position for expelling water past the rearward edge of the blade from the area between the blade and the top wall of the channel, the surface of the top wall of the channel and the upper surface of the blade comprising mutually opposing faces shaped to maintain contact with one another during at least the initial part of the movement of the blade from the first to the second position and during at least the final part of the last stated alternative movement, the surface of the bottom wall of the channel and the lower surface of the blade comprising mutually opposing faces shaped to maintain contact with one another during at least the final part of movement of the blade from the second position to the third position and during at least the initial part of movement of the blade from the third position to the fourth position.

2. A flat-bottorned boat having a pair of side walls, a bottom wall, and a rearward or stern end wall, a deck member presented upwardly of the rearward portion of said bottom for defining therewith and the intervening portions of said sides a compartment, there being an opening in said bottom forwardly of said compartment, said compartment being opened at its forward end for communication with said bottom opening, a shaft disposed above said deck member, means for effecting rotation of said shaft, a liquid-engaging, work-performing blade disposed in said compartment and means interenga-ging said blade and said shaft for effecting upward and downward movement of the same within said compartment, and guide means for causing said blade to be presented in an inclined attitude in the course of travel a rearward end wall in said compartment, said end wall having a plurality of liquid outlets arranged in side-byside relationship transversely of said boat.

3. A flat-bottomed boat as defined in claim 2, and further characterized by the provision of a rearward end wall in said compartment, said end wall having a plurality of liquid outlets arranged in side-by-side relationship transversely of said boat.

4. A fiat-bottomed boat as defined in claim 2, and further characterized by said liquid outlets being of tapering cross-section with their outer, rearward ends being narrower than their inner ends for effecting jetlike ejection of liquid therefrom.

5. A flat-bottomed boat as defined in claim 4, and further characterized by means for selectively occluding said liquid outlets for boat dirigible purposes.

6. A filat-bottorned boat as defined in claim 5, and further characterized by said outlet occluding means comprising a plate pivotally mounted upon the rearward end of said boat and control means for effecting rocking of said plate for bringing about occlusion of selected openings.

7. In combination with a fiat-bottomed boat having a rearward deck portion, a water compartment disposed beneath said rearward deck portion, and extending transversely across said boat from side to side thereof, said compartment having a forward water inlet and a rearward water outlet, boat propulsion means comprising a shaft disposed transversely of said boat above said deck portion, enclosed housing-forming means provided at each side of said deck portion, said shaft projecting into each of said housings at its end, a circular plate mounted on each end of said shaft within the related housing, a crank pin carried on the outwardly directed face of each circular plate eccentrically thereof, a crank pivotally engaged at its upper end to each of said crank pins within said for effecting rotation of said shaft whereby said blade is caused to move upwardly and downwardly within said compartment through operation of said circular plate, crank pins and cranks, guide means for restraining said blade against movement longitudinally of said compartment whereby in the course of upward and downward travel, said blade will be presented in inclined attitude for drawing water into said compartment and expelling same through the outlet thereof.

8. In combination, a water vessel having a hull with a bottom portion adapted to contact water when the vessel is afloat in the water, shaft rotatably supported by the hull above the bottom portion thereof, means defining a substantially vertical housing projecting above the bottom portion of the hull, a crank positioned within the housing, the crank having an upper end positioned above the bottom portion of the hull and a lower end positioned below the bottom portion of the hull, means providing an eccentric connection between the shaft and the upper end of the crank, means defining a longitudinal channel in the lower side of the bottom portion of the hull, the channel being open to permit passage of water therethrough, a work performing blade fixed to the lower end of the crank, the work performing blade having forward and rearward edges extending transversely of the hull, means for effecting rotation of the shaft whereby the blade is caused to move upwardly and downwardly within the channel through operation of the eccentric connection, guide means for limiting movement of the blade longitudinally of the hull whereby in the course of upward and downward travel, the blade will be moved alternately from an upper horizontal position to a forwardly and downwardly inclined attitude for drawing water past the forward edge of the blade into the area between the blade and the hull and from a lower horizontal position to a forwardly and upwardly inclined attitude and thence to the upper horizontal position for expelling the water past the rearward edge of the blade, the surface of the longitudinal channel above the blade and the upper surface of the blade comprising mutually opposing faces shaped to maintain contact with one another during at least the initial part of the first stated alternative movement and during at least the final part of the last stated alternative movement.

9. In combination, a boat having a deck portion, a water compartment disposed beneath said deck portion, and extending transversely across said boat, said compartment having a forward water inlet and a rearward water outlet, boat propulsion means comprising a shaft disposed transversely of said boat above said deck portion, housing-forming means provided at each side of said deck portion, said shaft projecting into each of said housings at its end, a connector mounted on each end of said shaft within the related housing, a crank pivotally engaged at its upper end to each of said connectors eccentrically of the shaft, said deck portion having an opening within said housings, said cranks at their ends projecting through said openings and into the said water compartment, a work-performing blade disposed within said compartment and extending transversely thereof, said cranks being fixed at their lower extremities to said blade, means for effecting rotation of said shaft whereby said blade is caused to move upwardly and downwardly Within said compartment through operation of said shaft, connectors, and cranks, guide means for restraining said blade ag-aisnt movement longitudinally of said compartment whereby in the course of upward and downward travel, said blade will be presented in inclined attitude for drawing water into said compartment and expelling same through the outlet thereof.

10. A water vessel having a hull with a bottom portion adapted to contact water when the vessel is afloat in the water, a shaft rotatably supported by the hull above the bottom portion thereof, means defining a substantially vertical housing projecting above the bottom portion of the hull, a crank positioned within the housing, the crank having an upper end and a lower end, means providing an eccentric connection between the shaft and the upper end of the crank, means defining a longitudinal channel in the lower side of the bottom of the hull, the channel being open to permit passage of water therethrough, a work performing blade fixed to the lower end of the crank, means to rotate the shaft whereby the blade is caused to move upwardly and downwardly Within the channel through operation of the eccentric connection, guide means for limiting movement of the blade longitudinally of the hull whereby in the course of upward and downward travel, the blade will rock angularly to force water to flow through the channel, the length of the blade in a tion of the hull, the crank extending through the opening.

12. The water vessel of claim 10 including counterweight means c-arried by the shaft cooperative with the crank to balance the shaft and facilitate the said increased rate of revolution of the shaft.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12,190 1/1855 De Bergue 11528 718,621 171903 Guenther 115-28 1,111,988 9/1914 Bell 11539 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

ANDREW H. FARRELL, Examiner. 

1. A LIQUID DISPLACEMENT SYSTEM FOR USE WITH WATERBORNE VESSELS COMPRISING A FLUID CHANNEL HAVING A BOTTOM WALL, A TOP WALL AND A PAIR OF SIDE WALLS, SAID CHANNEL BEING OPENED AT ITS ENDS FOR FLUID INGRESS AND EGRESS, A SHAFT PRESENTED ABOVE SAID TOP WALL, A CRANK, MEANS PROVIDING AN ECCENTRIC CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SHAFT AND THE CRANK, THERE BEING AN OPENING IN SAID TOP WALL, SAID CRANK EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY THROUGH SAID OPENING AND INTO SAID CHANNEL, A LIQUID-ENGAGING, WORK-PERFORMING BLADE DISPOSED TRANSVERSELY WITHIN SAID CHANNEL, SAID BLADE BEING FIXEDLY ENGAGED TO THE LOWER END OF SAID CRANKS FOR RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT UPWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY WITHIN SAID CHANNEL UPON ROTATION OF SAID SHAFT AND GUIDE MEANS FOR LIMITING LENGTHWISE MOVEMENT OF SAID BLADE RELATIVE TO SAID CHANNEL SO THAT DURING UPWARD AND DOWNWARD TRAVEL, THE BLADE WILL BE MOVED SUCCESSIVELY FROM A FIRST UPPER HORIZONTAL POSITION TO A SECOND FORWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY INCLINED POSITION FOR DRAWING WATER PAST THE FORWARD EDGE OF THE BLADE INTO THE AREA BETWEEN THE BLADE AND THE TOP WALL OF THE CHANNEL, THENCE TO A THIRD LOWER HORIZONTAL POSITION FOR EXPELLING WATER PAST THE REARWARD EDGE OF THE BLADE FROM THE AREA BETWEEN THE BLADE AND THE BOTTOM WALL OF THE CHANNEL, THENCE FROM THE LOWER HORIZONTAL POSITION TO A FOURTH FORWARDLY AND UPWARDLY INCLINED POSITION FOR DRAWING WATER PAST THE FORWARD EDGE OF THE BLADE INTO THE AREA BETWEEN THE BLADE AND THE BOTTOM WALL OF THE CHANNEL, AND THENCE TO THE SAID UPPER HORIZONTAL POSITION FOR EXPELLING WATER PAST THE REARWARD EDGE OF THE BLADE FROM THE AREA BETWEEN THE BLADE AND THE TOP WALL OF THE CHANNEL, THE SURFACE OF THE TOP WALL OF THE CHANNEL AND THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE BLADE COMPRISING MUTUALLY OPPOSING FACES SHAPED TO MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH ONE ANOTHER DURING AT LEAST THE INITIAL PART OF THE MOVEMENT OF THE BLADE FROM THE FIRST TO THE SECOND POSITION AND DURING AT LEAST THE FINAL PART OF THE LAST STATED ALTERNATIVE MOVEMENT, THE SURFACE OF THE BOTTOM WALL OF THE CHANNEL AND THE LOWER SURFACE OF THE BLADE COMPRISING MUTUALLY OPPOSING FACES SHAPED TO MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH ONE ANOTHER DURING AT LEAST THE FINAL PART OF MOVEMENT OF THE BLADE FROM THE SECOND POSITION TO THE THIRD POSITION AND DURING AT LEAST THE INITIAL PART OF MOVEMENT OF THE BLADE FROM THE THIRD POSITION TO THE FOURTH POSITION. 